I promised an accounting of Daniel Piper’s census records in my last post Tough Nut to Crack, Daniel Piper, Brick Wall Ancestor.
Great Grandfather was alive for the 1790 and 1800 federal census, but those enumerations have long been lost to Virginia researchers.
By 1790 Daniel and Elizabeth Acker had been married several years. A1790 personal property tax list reveals Daniel taxed in Shenandoah County, Virginia.
The 1800 personal property tax lists provide a new location for the family in neighboring Augusta County, Virginia. Nothing further can be gleaned from the document besides Daniel being required to pay a tax on himself.
The 1810 and 1820 federal enumerations added to Great Grandfather’s story.
Augusta County remained home to the Piper’s when the 1810 federal census was recorded. It breaks down the family into the following categories:
1 white male under 10 years: son Daniel A. Piper
1 white male 45 years of age and up: father Daniel Piper
3 females under 10 years: the youngest daughters Frances, Eliza and Sarah
2 females between 10 and 16 years: Polly and Margaret
1 female 45 years of age and up: Mother Elizabeth (Acker) Piper
Three more children not included in the 1810 census round out the family. An older son, Joseph, born about 1789 was close to 21 years old in 1810. The second son, George W. Piper, would have been around 18 years of age. I couldn’t locate Joseph or George as heads of household in 1810 and don’t know where they were living. Daniel and Elizabeth Piper’s eldest daughter, Elizabeth, had already married. The youngest son, William K. Piper, had not yet been born.
The 1820 census surprised me. Daniel Piper’s household included just one male over 45 years engaged in manufactures. No doubt he was the one male but where were his wife and younger children? Had Grandmother Elizabeth died? The older children Joseph, Polly, George, and Margaret all had married in the intervening years.
In 2005 the Virginia Genealogical Society published Wesley E. Pippenger’s Index to Virginia Estates 1800-1865, Volume 6, Counties of Augusta and Rockingham, City of Staunton. Staunton is one of Virginia’s independent cities and maintained their own records. This is where I found five index entries for bonds titled “Piper, Daniel, constable” in Staunton will books.
Since I was borrowing Staunton land records from the Library of Virginia, I requested the will books too. Yes, the Staunton land transactions (which I’ll tell you about soon) and the bonds are for my brick wall ancestor Constable Piper.
To become a constable, Daniel needed to issue a bond promising the Corporation of Staunton two full years of service. If he did not, he would forfeit $500 to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Great Grandfather committed to five two-year terms beginning June 17, 1805, serving until June 1815.
I’m including a transcription of the1809 bond from Staunton Will Book 1, pages 125-126.
Know all men by these presents, that we Daniel Piper and Jacob Leas are held and firmly bound unto his Excellency John Tyler esquire Govvenor of Virginia and his successors, for the use of the Commonwealth, in the just and full sum of five hundred dollars, to which payment well and truly to be made, we bind our-selves, our heirs, executors and administrators firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals and dated the twentieth day of June 1809, and in the 33rd year of the Commonwealth.
The conditions of the above obligation is such, that whereas the above bound Daniel Piper hath been duly appointed Constable in and for the Corporation of Staunton for the term of two years from the date of these presents. Now if the said Daniel Piper shall well and truly make due return of all precepts and papers, that shall come into his hands by virtue of his Office, and shall in all other respects, well and truly discharge the duties of a Constable within the said Corporation for and during the term aforesaid, according to law, then the above Obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and Virtue.
Daniel Piper
Jacob Leas
Signed, sealed and acknowledged
in Open Court
Teste.
Vincent Tapp, C. Ck
Come back and visit soon. I’m planning a Daniel Piper, Brick Wall Ancestor, Part 3 blog post.
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